Hi my fellow casemodders...it's Kier again It's time for a new build with the beautiful Corsair Carbide Air 540. Saw this case for the first time at some pictures from Computex 2013. And think it has a lot of potential A good looking case with numerous possibilities for air cooling and watercooling ofcourse. Time to think of some nice ideas and cut it in pieces. Still have some hardware laying around for this build, which of course may change in the future of the build. Hardware: Mobo: Z68X-UD4-B3 CPU: i7 2600K GPU: GTX680 x2 PSU: CM silent pro Platinum 1000w Fans: xigmatek xof-f1251 6x SSD: OCZ Vertex2 120GB HDD: WD Green power 1TB RAM: Corsair Dominators 8GB1600C7 Watercooling: Radiators: EK-CoolStream RAD XT (240) + EK-CoolStream RAD XT (360) GPU blocks: EK-FC680 GTX+ - Acetal+Nickel 2x CPU blosk: EK-Supremacy (old style) Pump: Laing DDC-1Plus MCP355 + EKWB top Tubes: Acrylic tubes 12/10mm And a lot of BP and EKWB fittings First of al some pics and a small review of the case.... The Corsair Carbide Air 540. And here it is. Dimension: 415mm x 332mm x 458mm Material: Steel and plastic Beautiful full side panel window Front I/O: (x2) USB 3.0 (x1) Headphone (x1) Mic Removable front dust filter. Top There is space for 2 x 140mm or 2 x 120mm fans or ofcourse a radiator Filter With magnets Front space for 2 x 140mm, 3 x 120mm fan or also a radiator 3x AF140L 140mm fans included Inside The two AF140L 140mm fans CPU cutout And the 3e included AF140L 140mm fan 8 expansion Slots Dual 3.5” hot swap bays 4x 2.5” tool-free SSD drive cages 5.25" drive bay Cable routing cutouts with rubber grommets All necessary cables present Maximum PSU length 200mm Accessory kit Time to place some hardware and see how it looks Maximum GPU Length 320mm If your going for air...Maximum CPU Cooler Height 170mm More to come!!!
Damn you kier just as I'm getting one you going to make me feel inadequate. I'm sure you will do an awesome job as usual, cannot wait.
First post wasn't much about modding, so time for a little modding UPDATE!!! This time i'm gonna cut the case in half First job...place some nice Xigmatek xof-f1251 fans. Btw. The color combination will be black/ grey and white. First, see how it looks A bit "normal". So other idea then, but first disassembling the case . Once stripped, this is whats left. Marked the size of 3 Xigmatek fans on top Time to do the first cut. Cut 2 strips to the right size and cut/ file some fan shapes Mounted and tried to get the same height as the original plastic covers Placed a 240 rad beneath it. 1 fan is for the show, much better looking then 2 on top and three in the front Both rads placed like this Again same heights as the plastic covers And front Cut a acrylic plate and made 3 fanholes in it And again for the front Cut 5mm on both sides to get a nice opening between the acrylic and plastic Glued a angled piece between (with ACRIFIX 192) And here it is...the new cover First pasted white vinyl on it to get a better light distribution from some LED strips Placed some white LED strips and a line of frosted acrylic on both sides. After this pasted another layer of vinyl, but this time black and put some power on the strips Hmm, stupid me...have a lot of RGB strips and controllers laying around. So removed the white strips and placed RGB. Dont think i'm gonna use the different colors a lot, but it's funny so why not? Dim the white lights And full power finally... a nice movie
Ever since i learnt about this case, i have had wet dreams about modding one. Looking at this, only makes me want to do it even more! That looks simply amazing, i love the way you took those fans. Its looks so perfect with the LED's and everything.
I love this case... Ive been dying to see what can be made of it by someone with Kier's skill and style.
Thanks Mod one mate, you will ike it very much Thanks mate ...CK Thanks Kier style it will be Hope so, but think i will not disappoint you
Update!!! External is almost finished.... So let's go inside What I did: Cut a acrylic midplate, and a acrylic mobo tray cut out with the dimensions of what remains after placing the mobo. Cut/ placed 2x angled aluminum strips which are bent. Placed at the side from the vertical radiator and front midplate. I also placed an acrylic pipe at each radiator which later become linked. Height midplate is sufficient to do some installation work beneath it. Attempt number 1 in terms of the tube routing (off course straight forward) Nice ... but not quite the thing i'm looking for. So change of plans: GPUs in-and outlets all down and later.... in-and outlet CPU up With C47 adapters Made all covers and midplate black again Only need to think/ make a nice cover for the horizontal rad Connect the GPUs Underneath the case I have some space to connect everything (needs to be nicely finished) Rads (right) connected and has a drain port. Furthermore GPU1 GPU2 coupled and the other in-and outlet with high flow fittings / flex tubes going to the right side of the case. And screwed an acrylic plate against it. CPU / outlet goes up and used some 90 degrees Rotery's to let it go to the right compartment Looks quite clean allready The CPU connection comes out here and using fillports As for the reservoir.... I have found a old EK Bayres. Made a new frontplate, this time without EK logo And placed a MCP355 pump at the back Fillports from both rads And two pics of the beautiful fans and nostalgic bayreservoir To be continued!!!